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Summary: TEACHERS??
Review: Why is this no longer required reading for advanced Emglish?? Absolutly unthinkable.
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Summary: Some books are more equal then others
Review: Like the Adventures of Huck Finn there is more to this book than just an entertaining story. Though the message is a little more obvious in this story. At least I hope it is!We've seen through history the failures of Animal Farm... Let us take heed... The story and the characters in this story are things we see played out before us over and over again. Orwell puts this all together in a brilliant narrative!
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Summary: "Animal farm" - The book about communism
Review: If you quickly look at the cover, title or the thickness of this novel, you might think this to be a book for children about farm life (thats what I thaught at first), but don't be tricked by this fact, really this book is a very well written novel which shows the 20th century history of Russia (or the USSR) in a very satiric way. The story is set on a farm somewhere in England. The animals living there inspired by the ideas of an old pig (Carl Marx) revolt against Mr. Jones who owns the farm (Nicholas II and his supporters). As soon as Mr. Jones runs away the farm is renamed from Manor farm to Animal farm (Russia-USSR) and the seven commandments are set up, which should keep the animals free and equal between each other, but as you can guess the novel doesn't end like this "...and they lived happily ever after." In fact the end is very pessimistic (as to the existence of communism in the near future). This book shows us that no matter how good the original ideas are (Marx's ideas for example) for the governing of society, leaders always get corrupted if too much power is given to them (Stalin). In my opinion Communism came into this world too early and in the wrong place (Russia in 1900 was certainly not ready for Communism and I think that no country in the next 5 or 6 centauries years will be ready for any of the forms of communism). For instance what would happen if you turned Medieval-feudal England into a democratic country? Nothing would work this regime would be overthrown and there some King on the throne again who return feudalism, same thing with communism. "Animal Farm" shows us that pure communism is impossible and that it has to be heavily 'mixed' with capitalism. Thus creating a mixed governing system like the NEP in 1920s USSR (It wasn't called USSR in those times). The novel might also be interesting to children (8+) even though ending will disappoint them and they won't understand the story behind the book. The only thing that I didn't like about this book that it was a bit short (97 pages and the font is quite big). But I still think that this is a superb book but it would be even more outstanding if Orwell would have made it a bit longer. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could!
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Summary: the more things change
Review: I recently reread this book after 25 years. In the 1970s, as a student, I was led to believe this book was about the USSR. It's not. It's about us and what we've become. It's about what happens when a well-intentioned but clueless cultural elite presumes to speak for everyone. It's about what happens when the masses "go along to get along" instead of standing up and fighting for what is morally and ethically right. I hope it ends better for us than it did for the animals.
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Summary: Animal Farm
Review: The book animal farm was givin to our whole class to read. It starts off with the animals having a secret meeting. They talk about how they are being underfed, over worked and overall just mistreated by humans. So the pig Old Major has the idea of rebelling against the humans. And one night they do. The humans are out of Manor Farm. Later to be renamed Animal Farm. Now that the humans are gone the pigs seem to take the "leadership" role.( in quotes because animals dont think he is a leader, only he does.) Napoloen, the pig, after a number of suspenseful events takes controll of the farm. This book is more than meets the eye. The author George Orwell got his ideas, and characters from the Russian revolution. The overall message of this book is power can courupt people.
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Summary: The Saddest Ending I've Read So Far
Review: Animal Farm is a wonderfully written portrayal of our future as humans, yet I find it sadly lacking. Many of the beliefs the animals share are parallel to my own; I do not agree with the killing of animals for meat, forcing them to produce an absurd amount of milk for human consumption, or placing them in servitude to satisfy our own needs. While I find it gratifying to discover another who agrees with my ideas, the ending was so sad and incomplete I became depressed. Boxer, the hardest working animal on the farm, is slaughtered because he is no longer useful, and the pigs become absolute monarchs of a rule of terror enforced by attack dogs. Then the animals look on while their leaders mingle with humans and can no longer tell who is a pig and who is a human. That is where the story ends, leaving you to guess the outcome while the "less equal" animals continue to live in suffering. Not exactly my idea of a bedtime story.
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Summary: It isn't just about the former USSR.
Review: This book has received justified praise for showing the crowning irony of the Russian Revolution, namely, that those who took over the leadership of the oppressed quickly became identical to the oppressors whom they had overthrown. Meanwhile, the loyal followers could be counted on to bleat that week's eternal verity incessantly to drown out all independent, critical thought about the direction that the revolution was taking. But we left all of that behind in the last century, right? Wrong! Just consider the social conservative movement, with its dittohead sheep and its dogma of more freedom through less freedom. Or consider political correctness, whose most "progressive" elements can scarcely be distinguished from those whom they supposedly oppose. Animal Farm is about us, too.
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Summary: Animal farm...
Review: This book, although short, is an exelent example of taking an event in history and turning it into a book that displays it in a way that gets children into something that has a deeper meaning. It indirectly shows real events in history, and shows how power corrupts. This book can teach children about how one person can sieze control, and how you can turn into what you do not want to become by being greedy. Overall this book is a good book to pick up and read because it gets you to think, and you can see real events in history keep repeating themselves.
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Summary: A must read
Review: In the beginning, it may be a little slow to some people, but by the end, you will want to read it again and again. It is absolutely one of the best books i have ever read!
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Summary: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Review: Animal Farm by George Orwell is a powerful testimony of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The plot with the farm animals revolt to create the perfect society of their own. Based on the Russian Revolution and the subsequent events, Animal Farm proves to be an unique interpretation. Orwell's thoughts, shaped by his own personal experiences and surroundings, are evident is this piece. The horrors of a totalitarian regime areclear in the book. With the abundance of articulate symbolism and the convincing message, Animal Farm is a must read for all teen or older readers.
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